Survey of the Faculty Status of Optometrists at Academic Medical Centers in the United States.

SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first study of the prevalence and faculty status of optometrists practicing at academic medical centers in the United States. PURPOSE: This study aimed to quantify the number of optometrists at academic medical centers, along with faculty rank and post-doctoral training programs. METHODS: The official Web sites of academic medical centers and schools of medicine in the United States were examined during the 2021 to 2022 academic year to identify departments of ophthalmology and collect faculty profiles of employed optometrists. Institutional data were cross-referenced and analyzed by geographic distribution. Data were gathered from the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry and Accreditation Council on Optometry Education to identify post-graduate training programs in optometry. RESULTS: A total of 192 academic medical centers were identified, of which 121 (63.02%) had a residency or fellowship program in ophthalmology and/or optometry. One hundred twenty-five (65.10%) of these institutions had at least one staff optometrist. Seven hundred eighteen optometrists were found at these institutions, representing 1.83% of the 39,205 practicing optometrists estimated in the United States. Of the 718 optometrists, 369 (51.39%) held an academic appointment at a medical school. The most common academic rank was assistant professor (184 [25.63%]), followed by instructor (138 [19.22%]), associate professor (34 [4.74%]), and full professor (13 [1.81%]). The distribution of academic rank was similar across all regions but varied between institutions as to whether all, some, or none of the optometric faculty were appointed by a medical school. Of 296 optometry residency programs in the United States, 21 (7.09%) were at an academic medical center. Of 15 optometric fellowship programs in the United States, 3 (20%) were at an academic medical center. Of the 192 institutions in this study, 22 (11.46%) had a post-doctoral optometric training program. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the distribution of academic rank and post-doctoral training programs for optometrists at academic medical centers.

Case report: The role of hypertension retinopathy graduation in the management of systemic cardiovascular disease.

Moderate to severe hypertensive retinopathies are more likely to correlate with uncontrolled blood pressure in all ages. Mild microvascular changes are expected with natural aging and are therefore more concerning in patients younger than 40. Risk assessment is subsequently determined based on blood pressure measurements and patient symptoms. The goal of this paper is to discuss current opinions regarding the role of grading hypertensive retinopathy in the risk assessment of systemic cardiovascular disease in the context of a clinical case. Management and referral recommendations for clinicians will be summarized. Emergent referral for hospital-based care is indicated in any patient with severe hypertensive retinopathy; pregnant women with moderate hypertensive retinopathy; patients younger than 55 with blood pressure greater than Grade 2; any patient with blood pressure greater than grade Severe; any patient with symptoms of chest pain, headache, dyspnea, or dizziness; and any patient with a symptomatic retinal plaque.